Africa: Coronavirus: Africa braces for impact ‘like nothing we have seen’

With ventilators scarce and social distancing a luxury, COVID-19 cases are rising on the continent. But some hope lessons from Ebola have left governments better prepared

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By Nita Bhalla

NAIROBI, April 6 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – With densely-packed slums, poor access to water, widespread disease and weak health systems, Africa will struggle to control the coronavirus, but health experts hope the continent’s youthful population could help in the fight against COVID-19.

The pandemic has been slow to arrive in the world’s poorest continent but now cases are rising exponentially as the virus spreads within local communities.